The Most Natural Thing in the World

'Sealed' by Naomi Booth (Dead Ink, 2017)

I love it when publishers put a shout out for book bloggers on Twitter.  This has led me to some absolutely incredible books, books that I would never have known about otherwise, let alone read.  'Sealed' by Naomi Booth is just one example.

'Sealed'
by Naomi Booth
(Dead Ink, 2017)

When the heavily-pregnant Alice and her laid-back partner, Pete, move out of the city to a remote house in the mountains, they believe it's a fresh start.  Away from urban pollution and the deadly skin-sealing disease it may be causing, they hope that they can put tragedy and worry behind them and prepare a safe home for the new arrival.  But the grass isn't always greener, and not only does their new location provide new dangers, old ones prove hard to escape too...

Sex and the Spelling

'How to be Famous' by Caitlin Moran

As you may have noticed, I've been stuck in a bit of a reading rut lately.  I've started countless books but just couldn't find the energy to finish any of them.  Fortunately, feminist, writer and journalist Caitlin Moran has energy to spare and I picked some up via her latest book, 'How to be Famous'.

'How to be Famous'
by Caitlin Moran
(Ebury Press, 2018)

Set in the mid-1990s and the sequel to 'How to Build a Girl' (which I haven't read), 'How to be Famous' is the next chapter in the life of young music journalist Johanna Morrigan.  Writing as 'Dolly Wilde' for a top magazine means she mingles with many musicians and performers and sees how they're all getting fame wrong.  Even her unrequited love, John Kite, has developed a drinking problem after his album went to number one.  Her new best friend, Suzanne Banks, lead singer of 'next big thing' The Branks, has added an enthusiasm for drugs to her already chaotic life, which in combination threaten the band's future.  Jo remains an observer of the pitfalls of fame until a two-night stand with edgy comedian Jerry Sharp goes badly wrong and she finds herself the talk of the town for all the wrong reasons.  Sharp is building his reputation by destroying others.  But can Jo stop him before he destroys hers?

Living Legends

'The Ravenmaster: My Life with the Ravens at the Tower of London' by Christopher Skaife

I've been in a bit of a flap over the past few months.  Three books that I, really, really, REALLY wanted to read were all due to come out in the same week in October and I was finding it hard to sit still until I got my hands on them.  Fortunately, October arrived and I've purchased and read the first of the tempting trio, 'The Ravenmaster' by Christopher Skaife.

'The Ravenmaster' by
Christopher Skaife
(4th Estate, 2018)

In 'The Ravenmaster', Yeoman Warder Christopher Skaife lifts the trapdoor on life with the Tower of London's most famous residents: the ravens.  Legend has it that if the birds leave, then the kingdom and the Tower will fall.  It's the job of Skaife and his team to make sure that the current cohort of seven birds are so happy and healthy that they never do.  Unfortunately, at times the ravens themselves can have other ideas...  'The Ravenmaster' shines a spotlight on these extraordinary birds, interweaving details of their characters, habits and relationships with broader tales of their cultural significance, the history of their home and the practicalities of life with Britain's most famous birds.

Under Cover Uncovered

'Soldier, Spy' by Tom Marcus

So, from peril in the Underworld I moved on to peril in the UK in the form of  'Soldier, Spy', memoir of former soldier and MI5 surveillance officer Tom Marcus.

'Soldier, Spy'
by Tom Marcus
(Penguin Books, 2017)

'Soldier, Spy' is a brutally, no-nonsense memoir.  After a necessarily self-sufficient childhood, Marcus joined the Army as soon as he was able, eventually becoming the youngest person selected for Special Operations in Northern Ireland.  In this role, the particular skills he'd acquired while growing up on the streets were noted by his superiors and he was recruited to MI5 soon after the 7/7 terrorist attacks in London.  He became an able but gradually more and more maverick officer, completing team operations across the country to tackle everything from international spies to home-grown terrorism.  It's a dark, dangerous and low profile business, and, eventually, a lifetime on high alert starts to take its toll on Marcus's mental health.  But in a world of half-truths and suspicions, how do you tell what's right and what's wrong?

Love Struck

'The Gods of Love' by Nicola Mostyn

I laughed when I saw the tag 'Bridget Jones meets Neil Gaiman' on the cover of 'The Gods of Love' by Nicola Mostyn, but it left me intrigued enough to borrow it when it appeared on the shelves of my local library.  I'm so glad that I did.

Frida is a cynical divorce lawyer, independent, self-assured and, above all, great at her job.  When the world's top tech company, NeoStar, invites her for a job interview, she sees it as the biggest opportunity of her career.  But the day before the appointment, a stranger, Dan, bursts into her office, warning of a prophecy and insisting that she should stay away from NeoStar at all costs.  Frida dismisses the bizarre visitor, unnerved but no less determined to go ahead with the meeting.  When things don't turn out anything like she expected, however, she finds herself slipping into an alternative reality of terrifying gods, parallel dimensions and a conflict dormant for 3000 years.  As the end of the world approaches, does Frida have what it takes to save us all?

Catalina: Warrior Princess

'The Constant Princess' by Philippa Gregory

After the disappointment of something new in fiction, I decided to go for something old.  This led me to one of my reading staples, historical fiction, in the form of Philippa Gregory's 'The Constant Princess'.

'The Constant Princess' is the story of Catalina, Infanta of Spain and Princess of Wales, the youngest daughter of Renaissance power couple Isabella and Ferdinand.  Born while her parents are on campaign against the Moors, she lives and breathes war, religious ideology and a sense of destiny from childhood, until victory brings peace and the luxury of the Alhambra Palace.  But at the age of 13 she leaves her parent's exotic court for England to marry Arthur, Prince of Wales, sealing an alliance between the newly united Spain and the freshly conquered country of Henry VII.  But from the moment she arrives, Catalina finds herself at odds with the brusque king and the alien culture.  She eventually finds solace and purpose in her marriage, but everything changes when an unexpected death leads Catalina to make a promise that will echo through history...

Support Your Local Indie!

'The Good, the Bad and the Multiplex' by Mark Kermode

So, from lost letters, we move on to potentially lost causes in Mark Kermode's 'The Good, the Bad and the Multiplex'.

Esteemed film critic Mark Kermode is back with a reasoned polemic on the state of cinema and why the current system is failing us, the audience.  Kermode discusses the demise of the projectionist and the knock on effect for performance quality, how remaking popular foreign language films means a lot is lost in translation and independent cinemas' ongoing battle for survival.  This is a book that questions the familiar headlines, revealing that the British are rarely coming (no matter how many Oscars Dame Judi Dench and Colin Firth win) and that, despite the hype, 3D is far from the future.  High noon is approaching, and Sheriff Kermode clearly has no plans to get out of Dodge.

Undeliverable Male

'The Lost Letters of William Woolf' by Helen Cullen

There's a growing trend in publishing for charming and uplifting tales of ordinary people experiencing extraordinary things.  These stories are becoming bestsellers, so it's not surprising that publishers are on the lookout for the next 'Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry' or 'Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine'.  One such hopeful is the debut novel of Helen Cullen, 'The Lost Letters of William Woolf'.

William Woolf is one of 30 'letter detectives' at the Royal Mail 'Dead Letters' depot in East London.  Every day, sackfuls of lost letters find their way to the depot thanks to smudged ink, missing labels and illegible handwriting.  The detectives try to solve their mysteries and get them back on their way, but too often the search proves fruitless and the only place the letters can go is the industrial shredder.  As William worries about his failing marriage and stalled writing ambitions, he becomes obsessed with a series of letters sent to 'My Great Love'.  Written by a young woman to the soulmate she has yet to meet, William is struck by the hope and yearning of her words and dares to wonder if they were meant for him all along...

Finely Tuned

'The Sing of the Shore' by Lucy Wood

It's been a good year for new publications and I've reeled a number of great sounding newbies onto my 'Would Like to Read' list recently.  One that caught my eye was the 'The Sing of the Shore', a collection of Cornwall-set short stories by Lucy Wood.  As you probably know by now, I love a good short story, and, thanks to my local library, I got a chance to try these.

Wood's book of 13 connected tales explores themes of curiosity, fear and isolation in a rural Cornwall dominated by the whims of holidaymakers and the forces of nature.  Characters' lives play out to the unceasing soundtrack of the waves crashing against the county's famously rugged and beautiful coastline.  For some, the sea offers escape from the monotony of family life.  For others, its a source of obsession.  Nosey children explore empty holiday homes, while adults find they won't - or can't - leave, even when the opportunity presents itself.  Friends let each other down, while enemies do the unthinkable.  Whether born-and-bred or retirees, all are held by the siren call of the sea as it ceaselessly gnaws at the shore and the psyche alike...

The Princess's Direst

I bet you thought it was safe here.  I bet you thought that it would be easy to hide on a little book blog like this.  Well, I'm sorry folks.  You thought that only the cinema was dominated by Star Wars incarnations, but, like the many-tentacled Sarlacc, I'm afraid the popular space adventure's long, elasticated reach has made it into this little corner of the internet too.  I have finished reading 'The Princess Diarist' by the late Carrie Fisher.

'The Princess Diarist' is sub-titled 'A sort of memoir...' and that's a fairly accurate description.  Unlike her other autobiographical work, it's dedicated to her relationship with the character of Princess Leia, Fisher's on-set affair with Harrison Ford and the unexpected impact of the worldwide phenomenon that Star Wars became and continues to be.  The book's name comes from it's inspiration; a collection of journals that the 19-year-old Fisher wrote while filming the original Star Wars film in 1976.  'The Princess Diarist' is Fisher's reflection on her most famous role, how actor and character became almost indistinguishable in the popular imagination and the highs and lows that come with having such a huge hit so early in your career.

Simply Wander-Full!

Ah, the glorious days of summer are upon us!  Which is why I've been hiding indoors, listening to the audiobook version of '21st Century Yokel' by music journalist and writer Tom Cox.  Well, you don't want me getting sunburnt, do you?

Released by the innovative, crowd-fund publisher Unbound, '21st Century Yokel' is as genre-defying as it is lovely.  Part-memoir, part-travel book and part ode to the British landscape, it meanders through tales of creatures and countryside, family and folklore to weave a charming narrative that you just want to wrap yourself up in.  Cox uses gorgeous, lyrical language to capture the important places, pets and people in his life with humour and optimism.  From his native Nottinghamshire, via Devon, Derbyshire and Norfolk, '21st Century Yokel' takes the reader on journey that is both laugh-out-loud funny and deeply thoughtful, but never, ever dull - especially if his Mr Cox Senior is around.

Feathered Fiends?

Earlier this week, I finished 'The Story Keeper', the second novel by Anna Mazzola. If you want moody Gothic with a heroine coming to terms with herself and her past, you've come to the right place!

September 1857: Audrey Hart escapes a miserable home life to the Isle of Skye, pursing her dream of becoming a folklorist.  As well as stories of fairies and magic, she comes to seek the truth about herself, as this is where her mother died in tragic circumstances.  Audrey enters the employ of the reclusive Miss Buchanan and struggles to earn the trust of the local people, scarred by the unkindnesses of the Buchanan family.  Everything changes when Audrey finds the body of a young, local girl washed up on the shore.  While she suddenly gains acceptance in the community, she also finds herself part of something more sinister.  Can the mythical Sluagh, the spirits of the dead in the form of flocks of black birds, really be abducting the young women of Skye, or is something more Earth-bound - and more terrible - at work?

Telling It Like It Is

One of my favourite podcasts is the Richard Herring's Leicester Square Theatre Podcast (also known as RHLSTP (RHLSTP!)).  It ranges from being gloriously vulgar to delightfully insightful and features interviews with a variety of fascinating guests.  One of the most interesting was with Jess Phillips MP (number 170), whose book, 'Everywoman: One Woman's Truth About Speaking the Truth' I have just finished.

In 'Everywoman..', Ms Phillips sets the record straight by telling her side of what it's like to be a vocal woman and feminist working in the public eye.  In chapters such as 'The Truth About Speaking Up', 'The Truth About Starting a New Career', 'The Truth About Equality', 'The Truth About Winning Elections' and 'The Truth About Trolling', she describes her experiences in life and work and the conclusions they have led her to.  Passionate, down-to-earth and driven, Ms Phillips lifts the lid on politics and privilege from her point of view.

Apocalypse Then

As you may have noticed, there's been a bit of a blogging drought recently.  Having had a brilliant start to the year, all of a sudden I found that I couldn't settle to anything in particular.  I'm currently part way through eight books.  Even for me, that's not unusual!  Desperate for an inspirational read, I spotted a tweet from Allen and Unwin (@AllenandUnwinUK) about 'The Last Hours' by Minette Walters.  They were looking for bloggers to review it, but would it be the answer to my prayers?

'The Last Hours'
by Minette Walters
(Allen & Unwin, 2017)

It's summer 1348 when the Black Death arrives in England via the Dorset port of Melcombe.  Before the population realises the danger, this most heinous disease is spreading rapidly across the county, slaying young and old with no regard for money or status.  On the estate of Develish, the compassionate and resourceful Lady Anne decides to take the bold step of bringing the estate's two hundred serfs within the manor house walls, much to the distress of her teenaged daughter Eleanor.  They may be safe from the pestilence, but soon become prey to internal conflicts as the social order shifts and even faith in God is challenged.  Under threat from without and within, how long can the people of Develish last?

Something to Believe in?

It's taken me six weeks to read 'Believe Me: A Memoir of Love, Death and Jazz Chickens' by Eddie Izzard.  That's a long time, even for me.  Just as well that I'm as stubborn as it's author!

In 'Believe Me', Eddie Izzard talks about his life and career and the events and personal philosophies that have made him one of the big names in stand up comedy.  He describes the shock of his mother's death when he was was six years old, his time at boarding school and how his determination drove him to develop his skills in street performing and sketch comedy, until he found his feet in film and television acting as well as the surreal stand up that he's best known for.  From football to marathons, coming out as transgender to learning to fly, 'Believe Me' weaves a story of ambition, self-realisation and determination to do something different.

Destination Unknown

I do not want to write this post.  The trouble is that if I don't, I'm not going to settle to any new books for a while, and I don't want that either.  So here goes.  A rather delayed review of 'Where Am I Now?' by Mara Wilson.

'Where Am I Now?' is the memoir of former child actress Mara Wilson, best known for her roles in 'Mrs Doubtfire' and 'Matilda'.  In this book, Wilson looks back on her life so far and the journey that's led her from a childhood in California and early worldwide film stardom, to life as a twenty-something writer and storyteller in New York.  As well as describing growing up on set, working with people including Robin Williams and Danny Devito, and her love for family and friends, she also shares personal stories about the death of her mother when Wilson was just eight, struggles with OCD, depression and anxiety and the career challenges that follow early success.

Mild, Mild West

At this time of year, and especially with the rotten weather we've been having, it's very easy to suffer a bit of the winter blues.  In the hope of a pick me up, I started reading 'Once Upon a Time in the West... Country' by fridge-towing funny man Tony Hawks.

'Once Upon a Time in the
West... Country'
by Tony Hawks
(Hodder & Stoughton, 2015)

In his early 50s and on holiday with the love of his life Fran, Tony has an epiphany: He doesn't have to live in London any more!  As a writer, radio show panelist and frivolous bet accepter, he can live anywhere, not just the Big Smoke.  In search of something more than the anonymity of the city, Tony and Fran make the move to Devon to start a new life.  But how will Tony cope with the sudden friendliness, expansive scenery and unexpected demands of country living?

Conflict Resolution

So, in my 2017 review, I said that I wanted to read some more of the books I'd been given in 2018.  I've made a start with 'The Reason You're Alive' by Matthew Quick, sent to me at the end of last year by Picador.

When Vietnam veteran David wakes from a serious brain operation with one name on his mind -

'The Reason You're Alive'
by Matthew Quick
(Picador, 2017)

'Clayton Fire Bear', a fellow soldier he wronged long ago - he realises that he must make amends before it's too late.  But first he has to recover, which means spending more time with the son he doesn't see eye-to-eye with over politics, relationships, food... well, pretty much anything really.  Fortunately, he'll also get to see more of his adored granddaughter Ella and David's friends are happy to help.  There are surprises all round as their worlds collide and old wounds as well as eyes are opened, but ultimately, David mustn't lose sight of the one final mission that must be completed despite his reservations...

Smoke and Mirrors, Darling

The first book I finished in 2018 was 'The Panther in My Kitchen' by Brian Blessed, which is basically 'Absolute Pandemonium' with just animals, so you don't really need a post about that.  The next was 'Do You Mind if I Smoke?' by Fenella Fielding and Simon McKay, which somehow followed on perfectly thanks to its intimate, conversational feel.

'Do You Mind if I Smoke'
by Fenella FIelding and Simon McKay
(Peter Owen Publishers, 2017)

'Do You Mind if I Smoke?' is the memoir of 90-year-old actress Fenella Fielding, best known for her velvety voice and comic roles on stage, radio and screen (if you know her from nothing else, you'll know her from 'Carry On Screaming').  In this book, she tells tales from her childhood and career, painting a picture of life as a performer in the 1960s and tempting us with tidbits from behind the scenes of various productions.  Through her many stories, the reader is given a glimpse of the hard work and tough decision-making that has to happen before the curtain goes up and the cameras start to roll, as well as the thrill of success and a job well done.

Review of the Year 2017

Happy New Year!  Hope you've had a fab 2017 and are looking forward to a great 2018!

It was a bit of a slow start for me this year, but things have picked up as time has gone on.  In total I read 23 and about 2/3 books, so I wasn't far off my two-a-month target.  I got in a good mix of fact and fiction, some old and some new, so hopefully there was something of interest to you too.

My 2017 highlights have to be 'Pride & Prejudice' by Jane Austen and 'Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine' by Gail Honeyman - something old and something new, and both brilliant.

Looking forward, I'm conscious that I have a shelf of books people have kindly sent me and another of things that people have given to me as gifts.  I feel awful for being so rubbish at reading things promptly, so I'm going to try to start putting this right a bit in 2018.  I always warn people who pass me books that I really do have a lot to read already, but I'm fairly sure that some of my friends and family have forgotten that they've lent me some of these...

Another thing I hope to do is read more classics.  Yes, that again!  Following on from 'Pride & Prejudice', I would really like to read another Jane Austen novel (Twitter recommended 'Persuasion').  Having visited both Haworth and Hardy's birthplace just outside Dorchester, I'd also like to try 'Jane Eyre' and 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles'.  I may not get a chance, however, as if I don't read Dumas' 'The Count of Monte Cristo', I think a friend of mine might actually pop! 

(By the way, if I manage to catch up on some of the books I've been sent, I'm thinking of making 2019 a year of books people have recommended to me.  But ask me about that again in 12 months time!)

Finally, I'm desperate to know what happens to Ross Poldark and co. after the Earth shattering events of 'The Angry Tide'.  Hopefully I'll squeeze at least one more of the late Winston Graham's novels in next year. 'Stranger from the Sea' is book 8 of 12, though, so I need to pace myself!

So, let's hope I can keep up the momentum for 2018 and make it a fantastic year.  As always, thank you for joining me on my personal reading challenge and I hope you keep enjoying the blog.  May your own personal projects be as successful!

Right, let's get reading!

2017: A Year in Books

1. 'The Shogun's Queen' by Lesley Downer
2. 'The Flame Bearer' by Bernard Cornwell
3. 'Slip of the Keyboard' by Terry Pratchett
4. 'Ghoul Britannia' by Andrew Martin - A good read for ghost story fans and writers.
5. 'The White Princess' by Philippa Gregory
6. 'Devonshire Folk Tales' by Michael Dacre
7. 'The Angry Tide' by Winston Graham
8. 'It's Only a Movie' by Mark Kermode
9. 'A Life Discarded' by Alexander Masters
10. 'Shattered Love' by Richard Chamberlain - Disappointing.
11. 'Cinderella Ate My Daughter' by Peggy Orenstein
12. 'Discovering Scarfolk' by Richard Littler
13. 'Trigger Warning' by Neil Gaiman
14. 'He Said / She Said' by Erin Kelly
15. 'The Tent, the Bucket and Me' by Emma Kennedy (Audiobook) - Entertaining stories of family holidays gone wrong.
16. 'Trans: A Memoir' by Juliet Jacques - A moving, personal story.
17. 'Free: Adventures on the Margins of a Wasteful Society' by Katherine Hibbert
18. 'God Bless You, Mr Rosewater' by Kurt Vonnegut
19. 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen
20. 'Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine' by Gail Honeyman
21. 'How to Be Champion' by Sarah Millican
22. 'Little Me: My Life from A-Z' by Matt Lucas
23. 'Puckoon' by Spike Milligan